Graveside service: 1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2, 2022 at Pine Grove Cemetery, Minden, La.
Mary Jean Paul Slack
August 10, 1946 – Nov. 29, 2022
Memorial service: 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022, St. John’s Episcopal Church, 1107 Broadway, Minden, La.
Webster Parish Journal publishes paid complete obituaries – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access – $80. Contact your funeral provider or wpjnewsla@gmail.com . Must be paid in advance of publication. (Above death notices are free of charge.)
The Glenbrook Apaches faced the Ouachita Christian School Eagles in Monroe for the Quarter-Finals of the LHSAA Playoffs on Friday, November 25. The Apaches put up a strong fight against the Eagles but came just short of advancing to the next round. Glenbrook finished their season 11-1 in a heartbreaking end to their Cinderella season with a 27-28 loss to the Eagles.
Toby Haulmark, Hayden Harmon, and Rhett Johnson represented the Apaches as the team captains for the coin toss, which OCS won. The Apaches chose to receive the ball after the Eagles deferred their choice to the 2nd half. Ty Feaster made passes to DJ Carter and Chase Sentell before OCS received a penalty, which put the Apaches within scoring position. Maddox Mandino caught Feaster’s pass, but did not make it past the 12 yard line. The Apaches followed up the play with a penalty that moved them back to the 33 yard line. Glenbrook still fought to move the ball down the field, but Ouachita Christian intercepted Feaster’s pass in the end zone, which led to the Eagles taking over on their own 20 yard line. The Apaches caused a quick 4th down and punt from the Eagles. The Apache ball was turned over once again as Glenbrook was forced to punt, leading to OCS taking over on their 48 yard line. Mandino made a huge stop as the Eagles moved the ball to their 36 yard line. Ouachita Christian pushed past the Apache defenders for a touchdown and extra point with 1:41 left in the 1st quarter. To start on offense, the Apaches recovered the Eagle’s short kick, taking over on their 42 yard line. Feaster completed a pass to Turner McLelland but was soon forced to punt as the quarter was ending.
The Apaches started on defense as they tried to keep the Eagles from adding to their 7-0 lead. Mandino once again made a huge stop as Ouachita Christian was forced to punt again. The Apaches’ luck was the same as they were forced to punt once again after only 1 complete pass to Carter. As the Apaches took over on defense, the Eagles moved into scoring position. Johnson made huge tackles against OCS while Dayton Sims deflected a pass in the end zone, but Ouachita Christian still pushed through and scored another touchdown with 8:31 remaining in the half. With the Apaches trailing 14-0, Mandino made a great kick return all the way to the 50 yard line. Feaster successfully passed the ball to Mandino for a first down, which led to the Apaches pushing the ball to the 12 yard line, but the ball was soon turned over. Mandino, Johnson, Garrett Brown, Hayden Harmon, and Landry Powell made hard tackles as Johnson also made a huge stop, which led to the Eagles turning over on downs. The Apache Offense took to the field as Feaster completed a long pass to Powell, who made an incredible catch. Feaster and McLelland each gained 1st downs, but the Apaches turned over on the 4 yard line. Before the half, Powell made huge defensive plays as well.
With a score of 14-0 going into the 3rd quarter, the Apaches fought hard to turn things around. The Apache defense started off the 2nd half, where Johnson made more successful tackles and Tre Kent deflected a powerful pass. Glenbrook’s strong defense forced the Eagles to turnover on downs. After Feaster made multiple successful passes to his teammates, he once again connected with Turner to score the first Apache touchdown of the night. Feaster kicked a successful extra point for the Apaches, adjusting the score to 14-7 with 6:54 left in the 3rd quarter. The Apaches then chose to onside kick, which McLelland recovered. McLelland’s momentum continued as he moved the ball to the Eagles’ 10 yard line. After several complete passes to Clemons and Johnson to move the ball closer, the ball was handed to Mandino, who dove into the end zone. Feaster tied up the game at 14-14 with his successful extra kick. With 4:48 left in the game, McLelland recovered yet another Apache onside kick. The ball was set at the Eagle 33 yard line. Sentell ran the ball for an Apache 1st down and soon recovered a fumble, but the Apaches were pushed too far back. Glenbrook attempted a punt, but it was blocked by the Eagles, who quickly recovered the ball and ran it into the end zone, taking the lead once again over the Apaches with 2:03 remaining in the quarter. Their lead was increased to 21-14 after their successful extra point kick. The Apaches took over on the Eagle 38 yard line, where Feaster made one successful pass to Mandino before the Apaches were forced to punt. To conclude the 3rd quarter, Mason Farnell represented the Apache defense with a strong quarterback sack.
The 4th quarter began with defensive stops by Harmon, Brown, and Carter and interception by Clemons. Feaster made 4 complete passes, one of which to Mandino, who broke multiple tackles while racing down the field. The Apaches were set up on the 6 yard line as the Apache ball was fumbled and recovered by the Eagles. Ouachita Christian ran the ball for a 94 yard touchdown with 7:00 remaining in the game. After the successful extra point, the Apaches were down 28-14. Glenbrook pushed forward as Feaster passed the ball to Sentell who scored a touchdown for the Apaches with 5:48 remaining. Feaster’s extra point changed the score to 28-21. As Johnson made another huge stop, Carter deflected a pass on 4th down. The Apaches regained possession of the ball with 2:33 left in the game. Feaster completed multiple passes, one of which to McLelland who bolted into the end zone for a touchdown. Now down 28-27, Glenbrook elected to go for the 2-point conversion to win by 1, but it was no good.
The 2022 Football Season was nothing short of an exciting one and will be remembered for many years to come. Throughout the regular and postseason, the Apaches scored an amazing total of 491 points over the 181 points that their combined opponents scored. Though the season ended sooner than many hoped, the Apaches fought hard to the end. Congratulations to all the players, coaches, and staff and a tremendous season. Even though we didn’t finish as hoped, it’s still a GREAT day to be an Apache.
It doesn’t matter how good you think you are or how many tournaments you have won, there will come a time when you just can’t figure the fish out and you come to the scales with nothing. This is the number one fear amongst all anglers who fish in tournaments. Anglers will literally wake up in a cold sweat at night when they have this nightmare. But let’s take a deeper look at the psyche of what goes through an angler’s mind as the day unfolds and they come in with no fish in the live well.
Very few times an angler left the ramp on tournament day because he did not feel good about his game plan. Most anglers usually have a good idea about what and how they’ll catch them on that particular day. But as the day unfolds and the clock is ticking, if an angler does not have fish in the live well by 10:00 AM, at some point he starts to second guess his game plan. He starts thinking (which is usually not a good thing) about how he should have started out deep rather than shallow, how he should have thrown a topwater bait early instead of a worm. Maybe he should have run up the lake instead of staying on the south end or how he should have fished the grass instead of the bushes. But no matter what, pressure starts to build especially when the clock strikes one o’clock with no fish in the box and a weigh-in time of three o’clock. For me, I tell myself, “If I’m going to catch them, I’ve only got two hours to figure them out!”
The next thing you know it’s two o’clock and you still have nothing to show for all the casts you’ve made. It’s at this point most anglers start to panic and start to visualize coming to the weigh-in with a big fat zero. You start to fish too fast and make bad casts, you get hung up more often and have to go and retrieve your bait in places you can’t get to. So, then you end up breaking off whatever bait you’re throwing, with the internal clock in your head moving faster, as you waste even more time looking for another bait and having to re-rig. It’s during these high-pressure times that you backlash a reel so bad that you have to put it away so that you can cut the backlash out when you get home. Then with only minutes to go, you hook the fish of a lifetime, only to watch it come off and swim away right before you get ready to swing it into the boat. A fitting end to a very frustrating day!
Then it’s time to head for the weigh-in and you hope everyone is gone by the time you get there…but that’s never the case. It’s funny how when you have twenty pounds of fish in the live well, no one ever asks how you did. But when you have zero, it seems everyone in the tournament, including their grandma, wants to know what you’ve got. But oh, the shame and embarrassment of having to say, “Zero!” It just doesn’t get any worse than that! So, it’s at this time you head straight for the boat ramp, load your boat, tuck your tail between your legs, pull your cap down low so maybe no one recognizes you, and head home. If you want to see who did not catch fish that day, watch the parking lot at the ramp and see just how fast an angler can load his boat and get out of there.
Hope you enjoyed hearing about the misery of what an angler goes through on those days when he just doesn’t catch them. But the thing that’s great about the end of a tournament is it means there’s an opportunity for redemption at the next event. Forget it and move on because that tournament is over and there’s nothing you can do to change the outcome of that event. Till next time, good luck, good fishing and don’t forget your sunscreen.
9 a.m. – 3 p.m.Mistletoe Market in Springhill’s CAC Building hosted by Springhill Chamber of Commerce.Kick off the Christmas Shopping season with craft vendors and boutiques.Admission free. Visit with the Shreveport Santa (10-2) sponsored by Carter Credit Union.
5 p.m. Springhill Christmas Parade hosted by the Chamber of Commerce.Springhill Main Street.
Nov. 28
8 a.m. Minden City Council workshop, Agenda: Employee handbook. Pelican Room at Minden City Hall. The public is invited to attend.
Current-Nov. 30
Motorcycle exhibit at Dorcheat Historical Association Museum, 116 Pearl St., Minden. Motorcycles courtesy of 3 State Harley Davidson.
Dec. 2 & 3
6 p.m. “From Humbug to Hallelujah,” A musical comedy that presents the tale of Ebenezer Scrooge – with a twist. Eastside Missionary Baptist Church, Minden, La. For information, call 318-286-1259 or 318-377-2528.
Dec. 3
10 a.m. until dark. Sarepta Christmas Festival will be held December 3 from 11 a.m. until dark. There will be live music, food and craft vendors, a 5K run, treasure hunt, pictures with Santa and more! A fireworks show will take place at dark. The Christmas Festival will be at the Sarepta Park and Community Building on Vine Street.
Dec. 6
6 until 7:30 p.m. Webster Parish Library. Meriwether Wealth and Planning will present a community education seminar “No, It’s a Scam!” Learn about the latest scams and schemes targeting Webster Parish residents. Presenters Jason Parker, Webster Parish Sheriff and Tracy L. Campbell, financial advisor for Meriwether W&P. No cost to attend but pre-registration is required. Seating limited to 35. RSVP 318-377-1803. Refreshments will be provided as well as important take-home information.
Visitation: 4 until 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 27, 2022 at Rose-Neath Funeral Home in Minden.
Funeral service: 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 28, 2022 at Rose-Neath Funeral Home Chapel, Minden.
Burial: Evergreen Cemetery, Minden, La.
Esther Aguirre
Sept. 12, 1948 – Nov. 24, 2022
Visitation: 3 until 5 p.m., Bailey Funeral Home, Springhill, La.
Graveside service: 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 27, 2022, Shiloh Cemetery, Springhill, under the direction of Bailey Funeral Home Springhill.
Betty Merritt Smith
Feb. 28, 1931 – Nov. 21, 2022
Visitation: 1 until 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022 at Sibley United Methodist Church, Sibley, La.
Funeral service: 2 p.m. following visitation.
Burial: Lane Memorial Cemetery, Sibley.
Margaret Leona Fulton
March 29, 1940 – Nov. 21, 2022
Memorial service: 1 p.m. Monday, Nov. 28, 2022, Western Cemetery Emerson, Ark., under the direction of Bailey Funeral Home, Springhill, La.
Webster Parish Journal publishes paid complete obituaries – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access – $80. Contact your funeral provider or wpjnewsla@gmail.com . Must be paid in advance of publication. (Above death notices are free of charge.)
Shongaloo – Just after 11 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 22, Troopers assigned to Louisiana State Police Troop G began investigating a one-vehicle fatality crash on LA Hwy 159, just south of LA Hwy 2. This crash claimed the life of 24-year-old Bret Dooly, who was not restrained.
The initial investigation revealed that a 2005 Ford F-150, driven by Dooly was traveling south on LA Hwy 159. For reasons still under investigation, he exited the roadway and traveled through the ditch before overturning.
Dooly, who was not wearing a seat belt, suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead on the scene by the Webster Parish Coroner.
Impairment is suspected to be a factor in this crash. Routine toxicology samples were taken and submitted for analysis. The crash remains under investigation.
Per the history books, the very first Thanksgiving was celebrated just over 400 years ago in 1621. The story of the first Thanksgiving feast is a common lesson taught to children in schools. Lessons include stories about the pilgrims and their voyage to the “New World” on the Mayflower landing in what is now Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The southeastern portion of the state served as the home of a native tribe called the Wampanoag tribe for more than 12,000 years before the arrival of the Mayflower.
The new colonists who traveled across the Atlantic Ocean in hopes of breaking free from the Church of England, found themselves in this new land preparing for winter the best they could. The Wampanoag tribe, having better knowledge of the land, assisted them in fertilizing the fields and growing their crops.
Soon after, both parties contributed a variety of goods and gathered to celebrate the harvest together. They celebrated for days together, eventually sealing a treaty of peace that lasted until King Philip’s War in 1675.
Today, Thanksgiving is celebrated annually every fourth Thursday of November in America. When we think about this day many things come to mind. The most common thing associated with Thanksgiving is the dinner we share with our families that symbolizes that first feast shared between the colonists and Wampanoag tribe.
The modernization of this holiday also means football games, the famous Macy’s day parade and lots of Black Friday shopping for adults, but what does it mean for the children?
The first thing most children associate Thanksgiving with is turkey and then of course, thankfulness.
When asked what they were most thankful for this Thanksgiving:
Beaux Monday, age 9, said, “Getting to spend time with my cousins.”
Hank Rowton, age 9, said, “Family, duck hunting and decorating the Christmas tree.”
Ada Murphy, age 9, said, “The roof over my head, sunshine and the air around me.”
Levi Ray, age 9, said, “Baseball.”
Emerson Lee, age 8, said, “God, my family and my house.”
Emily Ferrell, age 7, said, “Mommy and daddy.”
Adalyn McClaren, age 5, said, “I am thankful for the food, Jesus and mostly family and my cousins.”
Olive Easom, age 4, said, “Jesus.
Ashton Nash, age 4, said, “Eating a turkey again.”
Caroline Ferrell, age 3, said, “Chocolate.”
Adeline Thornhill, age 3, said, “My baby owl.”
While sitting down to enjoy your Thanksgiving feast this year, consider beginning a new tradition with your family, like taking some time to go around the table and have each person say what or who they are most grateful for, as well.
Pause the game, record the parade and save the Black Friday shopping for … Friday. Be grateful for and enjoy the time with your loved ones. That is the most important thing – time.
Thanksgiving was never what you would consider traditional around our house when your humble observer was a youngster. Of course, family and friends congregated at the house on the corner and we ate until the belt lost a notch, but that was about as far as tradition went.
Our Thanksgiving table was an assortment of differences, and that’s what made the holiday meal unique. It’s not everywhere a feller could sit down to entree of a Daddy-special ham (secret basting ingredient, homemade muscadine wine), maybe a hefty platter of fried chicken, and turkey (when provided by aunt or uncle).
Add-ons included Miss Rose’s dressing (begging to be smothered in giblet gravy), mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and at least a half dozen veggies from the garden of my Daddy, the man who could plant a row of peas on an asphalt road and get a bumper crop.
And, we always had one special treat. A large bowl of yams dominated the center of the spread giving my precious grandmother the opportunity to point and say, “We got sweet potatoes,” at least a half dozen times.It was a table to behold. And we were thankful.
Thanksgiving was, back then, just that. A day to give thanks. Like lots of folks we didn’t have much money but we weren’t poor. The food, the family, the friends, the warmth of home that seemed to embrace each of us, the blessings of life and health all spoke volumes of how thankful we should be. Thanksgiving was a time for celebration and reflection on the mercies of a benevolent God.
Today, we’ll join millions who will set aside cares and, hopefully, differences to enjoy a uniquely American holiday. It’s a holiday, designed to bring us together, but it’s one that was proclaimed during a time in our history when we were horrifically torn apart.
Not long after the battle of Gettysburg in 1863, President Abraham Lincoln officially set aside the fourth Thursday in November as a time to give thanks. It was more than 240 years after the Pilgrims celebratory feast, but better late than never. And the holiday wasn’t all Lincoln’s idea. Advocating for the event was a lady who’s better known for a children’s poem than as the Mother of Thanksgiving. Sarah Josepha Hale, author of “Mary Had A Little Lamb,” bent the president’s ear into submission and, voila, here we are.
But in keeping with the serpentine social/moral roads we’re traveling in country, Thanksgiving is becoming something different. Creeping into our mainstream is a demonization of the holiday, and it’s happening in houses of alleged higher education, supported by significant flame-fanning from our friends in many media outlets.
Thanksgiving, claim the intellectuals, is more about genocide, imperialism, supremacy and domination brought to this Utopia by once-starving European Pilgrims. These intruders depended on the benevolence of Native Americans (Indians, to us bloodliners) to exist; benevolence repaid by disease, slaughter and designed displacement.
Some “activists” say the day should be labeled “Colonizer Christmas” because they don’t like what Thanksgiving represents. Some years ago, an email from a college to its students reminded young sponge brains that “Thanksgiving is complicated,” adding “We urge you not to forget that this holiday commemorates genocide and American imperialism.” New York City’s Barnard College certainly had a way with Marx’s words.
Such comments and attitudes matter only to the enlightened minority who have to speak to one another to find someone who really gives a Potter’s pimple about their opinions. My ol’ granddaddy used to say it’s okay to let a fool talk ’cause sooner or later he’s gonna run outta fools who will listen to him. Grandaddy’s right. Just look at the ratings and subscription numbers of some of our “major” media outlets.
Even with the cultural demonization and snarkism, Thanksgiving is the time to focus on our many blessings, not the least of which is the absolute right to the enjoy liberties we are guaranteed. We are a society of free people who can exercise our right to speak freely and worship in the manner we choose without dictate from king or despot, Democrat or Republican.
Many believe we live in a culture identified by privilege and power; one that cannot allow itself to acknowledge the people or the Higher Power that have provided us such tremendous opportunity. Those culturally privileged and powerful just need to be reminded they are decrapitated by the ignorance of arrogance.
Thanksgiving is a day to relax and enjoy what we know to be the truth…that God is in control and His blessings will continue to flow to those who love Him. Let somebody else worry about cultural implications. Let them spoil their wokey appetite. Our only concern should be whether or not the relatives and friends leave us some leftovers. No cooking is anticipated at Rocker headquarters for the next couple of days.
If you have taken the time out of this busy day to read my column, thank you.
I know this day of gratefulness can also be a day of great stress for some.
The amount of stress for the day is probably dependent on what type of mom you are on Thanksgiving.
I will start off with the type of mom I am on this day.
The mom that avoids the kitchen at all costs. Lucky for me this year my sole responsibility is trying to get there before the carving of the turkey. That will be a challenge in itself, but I will do my best. If I am feeling a little radical that morning, I may stop and grab a pecan pie from the frozen food section at my nearest Wal-Mart on the way (or whatever store happens to be open).
I get to be this kind of mom today simply because my mom is not. She is the mom that cooks the entire Thanksgiving dinner all by herself. She begins prepping in the kitchen days before and wakes up early on Thursday morning to finish up the entrée, side dishes, and makes sure we have all the condiments, drinks, desserts and utensils. She may allow a couple trusted family members to contribute, but most of the time she is shooing us out of the kitchen because if it’s not done her way- it is not the right way.
Then, there is the potluck dinner mom. Most likely she prepares the entrée to perfection, but she allows family members to bring the rest. My family did this one year before and it was an awesome way to show off each loved one’s signature dish. This also takes some of the stress off the host and allows more time for relaxation and enjoying time with family.
If I am ever set to host the family Thanksgiving again, knowing me and the creative ways I try to defer stress all together, I will be the mom who orders in. This could be challenging to find a restaurant that is open on Thanksgiving, but I will do some research beforehand. We may be eating BBQ or Chinese food, but sometimes it’s good to stray from the usual traditional feast of turkey and dressing. We can eat that for Christmas next month.
This reminds me of the iconic scene in “A Christmas Story,” where the mother spent all day being the type of mom that my mother is this year. She spent hours upon hours preparing that Turkey that her husband could not help but to sample, just to have that pack of hounds break in the house and demolish it. This incident led to the family having to eat out at a restaurant for their Christmas dinner where they witnessed the chef aggressively chop the head off their main course.
So, if you are not the traditional type of mom and maybe you would prefer to not have people coming in and out of your house, then having to clean up whether you cooked or called in, perhaps you should try being the restaurant mom.
No matter how you choose to enjoy Thanksgiving make sure you take some time to actually appreciate it. Soak in those moments with your loved ones whether you are the do-it-yourself mom or the mom that just shows up. It is okay to be either of those or everything in between, just do not be the mom that forgets to defrost the turkey!
Happy Thanksgiving!
(Paige Nash is the mom that shows up, as well as digital journalist for Webster Parish Journal.)
Q: How can I make good decisions under pressure, or in a crisis?
A: Train your brain.
Whether you’re a youngster with no life experience, or a highly trained, seasoned, steely-eyed dealer of death, you’re capable of making poor choices under pressure.We’d likely prefer the latter coming to our rescue if bullets start to fly, but everyone is fallible.The difference between the trained and the untrained is that trained people understand how decisions are made.Therefore, they can think faster under stress and are more likely to persevere under extreme circumstances.
In a 1976 essay titled “Destruction and Creation,” United States Air Force Colonel and military strategist, John Boyd – affectionately referred to as “Genghis John” by some of his cohorts – first presented his interpretation of the decision-making process, specifically as it pertained to arial combat.The “O.O.D.A. Loop,” as he aptly named the decision-making cycle, is an acronym for Observe – Orient – Decide – Act, and is still widely taught to military, law enforcement, and other combat-ready entities.The cool thing is it applies to all of us.
We complete the O.O.D.A. Loop hundreds, if not thousands, of times each day.We aren’t always conscious of the decisions we make, but we make them, nonetheless.When we think about observation, we tend to think about what we see, but an observation can be anything our brains process from any of our five senses.The time between our sensing something and our brains processing the information is orientation.For example, by the time you realized the stove was hot, you were already burned.After orientation has occurred, a decision must be made, either consciously or subconsciously, and that decision must be put into physical action – like jerking your hand away from the hot stove.
Many things can determine how quickly we’re able to navigate the decision-making process, but training and life experiences rank among the top factors that can speed up or slow down one’s ability to react, especially in a crisis.
Imagine you’re driving on the interstate, and you come up on an 18-wheeler traveling 68 MPH, in the right-hand lane.You decide to pass on the left, and just as you get alongside the big truck, you OBSERVE that 80,000-pound vehicle begin to merge into the left lane, right toward you.Is the driver dodging a roadway hazard?Is he simply being careless?Is he snorting meth off a Milli Vanilli cassette case?It doesn’t really matter, does it?Now that you’re ORIENTED to what’s happening, you have a DECISION to make.Turn the wheel?Hit the brake?Punch the gas?Perform a combination of wheel turning and pedal pressing?Then you ACT and do whatever you decided in that instant would give you the highest probability of survival, and it all likely happened without conscious thought.That’s your O.O.D.A. Loop hard at work.
Now imagine a situation that’s probably foreign to you.You’re sitting in church and a man armed with an AK-47 enters the sanctuary and starts shooting parishioners.First, you’ll have to overcome a sense of denial.“This can’t be happening here.Not at my church.”You may also have emotional filters to deal with – especially if the person doing the killing is known to you or, God forbid, one of your own relatives.What options do you have for survival?Are there people with you that are your responsibility to protect?Are you even equipped to fight back?
See where I’m headed here?The deadly traffic crash was avoidable in an instant because you’ve been there before.At the very least, you were mentally prepared to react appropriately.The active shooter situation started just as quickly, but your response was slower because that isn’t something you’ve experienced and haven’t spent nearly as much time preparing to overcome.
We know from middle school science that action is always faster than reaction.So, it’s important to understand that bad guys have O.O.D.A. Loops too.Colonel Boyd believed that the orientation phase of the process was the most crucial because that’s where people would most often get bogged down, preventing them from completing the cycle and performing the necessary action.The point is to DO SOMETHING.Do something other than freeze.When we act, we can make an attacker react to us.That, in turn, gives us a tactical advantage, effectively allowing us to own the initiative.The right choice, whatever that may be, is obviously preferrable, but even if we do the wrong thing, and continue to act, we can effectively keep the bad guy bouncing between the observe and orient phases of his own O.O.D.A. Loop.
Join us next week when we cover what to expect from adrenaline and how to overcome its effects.Until then…
Avoid what you can.Defeat what you can’t.
-Ryan
Please submit your questions to Ryan via email at Ryan@9and1tactical.com
(Ryan Barnette is not a licensed attorney or a medical provider, and no information provided in “Slicing the Pie,” or any other publication authored by Ryan Barnette should be construed, in any way, as official legal, or medical advice.)
The Glenbrook Apache’s won their first LHSAA playoff game this past Friday with a 42 to 21 score over the Catholic Pointe Coupee Hornets. The atmosphere at Glenbrook was amazing. Being able to host a LHSAA playoff game is something Head Coach David Feaster hopes becomes an every year event.
Coach James Thurman and the Apache Defense played great against Catholic Pointe Coupee and the triple option. This Friday’s opponent in Ouachita Christian School (OCS) is a top team that is very well coached and always in the hunt for State Championships. OCS has been to 3 straight state championship games, factor in the extra practices OCS has gotten the past 3 years with making it to 3 straight championship games, the players almost have a full extra season under their belts. Just like Coach Feaster has said on the Tim Fletcher show, getting to play deep into the playoffs gives you more time with the players and more practices.
“If you can make it to Thanksgiving and are still practicing football, you must be a pretty good team,” Coach Thurman said. “Well, here we are, so we must be a pretty good team. So now we just have to go out and play to our ability and show why we are 11-0. We definitely have a punchers chance in this one.”
Coach Thurman’s defense will have to be ready to play this Friday. Hayden Harmon, Landry Powell and Maddox Mandino will have to go out and do what they have done all season…. Make great plays. Maybe my favorite player to watch is big #55 Garrett Brown. He plays like a wild man and is all over the place. The entire defensive line unit is impressive. With Luke Vining and Daivari Jackson, the unsung hero’s of most football teams are the D Line and O Line.
“Coming into the game against Catholic Pointe Coupee we knew they were physical, liked to run the ball and we knew we would have to play solid for 4 quarters to advance to this week match up with OCS,” Defensive Line Coach Patrick Thomas said. “Coach Thurman does a great job putting our guys in the right place on defense and makes it easy for his defensive staff to coach the players up and that’s been very enjoyable this year. Looking at OCS you see a lot of skilled guys running around on offense and their coaches do a great job at distributing the ball all over the place. Coach Thurman has put together a defensive plan and its our job to make sure our position players know whats going on and they have to execute. OCS does a lot of good things and we look forward to Friday night.”
The Glenbrook Apaches pushed their season record to 11-0 and the Louisiana High School football current winning streak to 17 in a row. The OCS Eagles have a streak of their own. According to Mr. Jake Martin with The Ouachita Citizen, the OCS Eagles are 28-0 since naming their field after their current Head Coach, Steven Fitzhugh. One of these streaks will come to an end Friday night.
The OCS Eagles are lead on offense by Senior QB Landon Graves who has played a lot of good football for the Eagles since his freshman year. On defense, the Eagles are lead by the entire linebacker group.
Glenbrook Apache’s offense will try and test the OCS defense with Junior QB Ty Feaster throwing to the receivers like Turner McLelland and Cason Clemons. The Apache’s are not just a throwing team, they can run the ball as well with DJ Carter and Chase Sentell. None of this would be possible without the Offensive Line. With guys like the Vining brothers, Spencer Brantley and Jackson Lott protecting T. Feaster and opening up holes for the running game the Apache offense has been able to be very productive.
The OCS Eagles are just a quick trip East to Monroe on I-20 for the Glenbrook fans, so expect a large crowd at OCS. The game will be at 7 p.m. Friday at OCS stadium. Tickets are $12 and you can get them at the gate.
(T-Bubba is a 12-year-old sports reporter and a 6th grade student at Glenbrook School.)
Savannah Court of Minden gave thanks by serving a Thanksgiving meal to residents and their families. Not your traditional Thanksgiving dinner, those attending enjoyed chicken and sausage gumbo, salad, French bread and pie. Webster Parish Journal is thankful to have Savannah Court of Minden as a new advertiser!
Often when individuals cook for the Thanksgiving holiday, there are likely to be plenty of leftovers. To ensure that leftovers are safe to eat, make sure the food is cooked to a safe internal temperature and refrigerate the leftovers promptly within two hours after they are removed from an appliance. Bacteria grows rapidly between the temperatures of 40° F and 140° F. After food is safely cooked, hot food must be kept hot at 140° F or warmer to prevent bacterial growth. Cooking food at a safe temperature and leaving food out at an unsafe temperature are the two main causes of foodborne illness. Foodborne illness is caused by food or beverages that are contaminated with bacteria, viruses, parasites, or toxins. Safe handling of leftovers is particularly important in reducing foodborne illness. Follow these 7 tips below to ensure your Thanksgiving leftovers are safe to consume.
Refrigerate or freeze leftovers within two hours of preparation to reduce the possibility of bacteria growing. Any food sitting out at room temperature for longer than two hours should be discarded.
When storing meat leftovers, cut large items of food into smaller portions to cool. For whole roasts or hams, slice or cut them into smaller pieces. Cut turkey into smaller pieces and refrigerate. Slice breast meat: legs and wings may be left whole.
It is important to get the temperature of the leftovers down quickly to prevent any type of bacterial growth. To speed up the cooling process, try separating massive quantities of leftovers into smaller containers. Leave hot foods partially uncovered while cooling, and then cover them completely once they reach 40º F or freeze.
Hot food can be placed directly in the refrigerator or be rapidly chilled in an ice or cold-water bath before refrigerating. Leftovers can also be immediately frozen for reheating later. While freezing stops the growth of bacteria, food quality can suffer if stored too long in the freezer.
When reheating leftovers, make sure the internal temperature of the food reaches at least 165º F before eating it. If using a microwave, stir the food occasionally to help promote even reheating.
Properly handled leftovers can usually be kept in the refrigerator for three to four days, while frozen leftovers can last up to three or four months. If not eaten within that time, they should be discarded.
When covering leftovers, wrap them in airtight packaging, or seal them in storage containers. These practices help keep bacteria out, retain moisture, and prevent leftovers from picking up odors from other food in the refrigerator.
If you need help on Thanksgiving Day, the Meat and Poultry Hotline is available from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Eastern Time. You can contact the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline(1-888-674-6854) to talk to a food safety expert or chat live at ask.usda.gov from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.
Leary & Crichton was a mercantile firm owned by W. P. Leary and Thomas Crichton. It was in operation from approximately 1883 to 1897 when W. P. Leary moved to Shreveport. An 1883 newspaper article describes it as “a house of high standing; dealers in general merchandise, confectionaries, etc., they are cotton buyers. Messrs. Jas. Crichton, Charlie Cheshire, and George Carroll are the salesmen; Mr. Newt Barnes, book-keeper.”
There seems to be a common misconception that this building stood on the same site as Crichton Hardware. However, maps, photographs, and an 1883 listing of downtown businesses provide evidence that this building stood in a different location. Together, these sources place Leary & Crichton at the corner of Main and Union on the site of the Webb Hardware building. It is likely this building burned in the 1902 fire.
This column is intended to share snippets of Webster Parish history. Please direct any questions or suggestions to dorcheatmuseum@yahoo.com or visit us at the museum.
(Jessica Gorman is the Assistant Director and Archivist for the Dorcheat Historical Association Museum in Minden and is an avid genealogist.)
Students at North Webster High School are constructing something special. For the third consecutive year, carpentry students are building a playhouse that will be raffled off in December.
The first playhouse was built in 2020. It started when Instructor Savannah Mire was approached by a number of seniors who wanted to do a project, and they decided to build a playhouse. Mire said that it was during the pandemic, and families were struggling. The students decided to build the playhouse and raffle it off for $5 per ticket. The students thought this would give parents a chance to win something nice for their children.
The students built a farmhouse-style playhouse the first year, followed by a barn version in 2021. This year, they built a mercantile building from the Old West.
The money raised through the raffle goes into the school’s Future Farmers of America (FFA) fund. This fund pays for student entry fees and travel for FFA events.
Just like other construction jobs, this one has a foreman. Senior Jacob Burnside is in charge of making sure things are done correctly.
“I’m proud to be a part of it,” said Burnside. “I think it gets us all together, hands-on. We get to learn a little more and for a great cause.”
Instructor Savannah Mire said that this project was a great way to put their classroom lessons into action in a unique manner.
“This is a way that we can put what we’re learning in class, instead of building little dog houses or projects,” said Mire. “Everyone can get a hand on it, and it’s a real-life application: anywhere from subfloor, wall systems, roofing systems and even to laying shingles on the roof.”
Tickets for this year’s raffle are $10 each. For more information on getting raffle tickets, contact Savannah Mire at callie.mire@websterpsb.org.
After a look at the Running Backs last time, we’ll jump right to the next largest player group: Quarterbacks
My earliest record of QB passing statistics for the Tide goes back to 1915 with Prentiss Hough, who would later be the Head Football Coach at Minden (1923-1926).The research was very hit and miss at the position, but through the 1920s and 1930s, I noticed more consistent mention of names at QB like Joe Aycock (1923-1924) and Carlos Green (1926-1927).Bert Lee (1937-1939) was the first Minden QB that I could find evidence of playing the position more than two seasons.
The one-two punch of Bert Lee and O.H. Haynes, Jr. led the Crimson Tide to their first State Championship in 1938 – outscoring their opponents 406-70.Lee’s 19 rushing TDs that year is tied for second, and Haynes’s 18 is fourth all-time.Due to extremely sporadic reporting of statistics, Lee is only documented as passing 9 for 23, for 118 yards and 8 TDs, and 1 Interception (INT) during his three years.Rushing, he offered 42 carries for 507 yards and 34 TDs.I suspect all his statistics were likely more than triple those totals, but there’s no documented proof.Lee was a three-time All-State honoree at three different positions: 1937 (End), 1938 (Left Halfback), and 1939 (Quarterback).What’s interesting is, O.H. Haynes, Jr. made All-State in 1937 and 1938… at Quarterback – with only three documented pass attempts!
Connie Irby was the first documented Minden QB to pass for over 100 yards in a game, in 1948.The next year, Donald Nation set a new single game passing record with 178 yards, which was only three more yards than Irby’s mark.In 1949, with Nation, I noticed more consistent reporting of passing statistics game-to-game.
James McCabe was a three-year starting QB who led the Crimson Tide to their second State Championship in 1954.He was the first Minden QB to toss for 1,000+ yards in a career despite only one, 100 yard passing game.Just like other Minden QBs to this point, McCabe was a jack of all trades.He had a 41-yard Punt Return TD in the 1954 State Championship game and is tied for the longest ever Kick Return touchdown at 97 yards.
Edwin Greer was the first Tide QB to pass for over 1,000 yards and have over 100 completions in a single season.Greer had seven games passing over 100 yards including the new record (186) in 1960.Edwin Greer is in the Top 15 in passing with the bulk of his work done in 1960.
“Little” Freddie Haynes was the QB through some of the worst and best of times for the Tide.In 1961, Minden went 1-9.Haynes didn’t throw a single TD but tossed 12 INTs.His Junior campaign was better with the Tide going 6-4-1 and Haynes doubling the previous year’s passing yards while chunking 8 TDs and 9 INTs.In the magical 1963 season, Haynes led the Crimson Tide to their only perfect season and their fourth State Championship – throwing for 1,124 yards, 10 TDs and 12 INTs.Haynes also added 700 rushing yards and 11 TDs in the Championship run and was the first Minden QB to toss double digit TDs in a season.In 1963, Haynes made First Team All-State as a Running Back, despite playing Quarterback.Back then, the Louisiana Sports Writers Association awarded only one All-State QB.Haynes had finished second in the voting behind Bobby Duhon of Abbeville.However, the LSWA felt Haynes deserved recognition, so they dubbed him First Team Running Back.“Little” Freddie Haynes set the standard for the true dual-threat QB as a career Top 10 passer and rusher in most career stat categories. Haynes’s career passing yards of 2,391 and total career offensive yards of 3,821 would stay the record at Minden High for another 25 years until the Shine and Seamster Show.
Bobby Lyle was the first real “gunslinger” in Minden history.Starting only one year at the helm for the Tide in 1965, Lyle slung the ball 60 more times and completed 40 more passes than Fred Haynes just two years earlier.Lyle was the first Tider to pass for over 200 yards in a game.He set a new school record with 14 passing TDs in a season, which would stand nearly twenty years.Lyle set a new school record with 1,675 passing yards in a season, which would stand for forty years.Lyle surrendered 21 INTs that year – a record standing to this day.Like Edwin Greer, despite the bulk of Bobby Lyle’s work coming in one season, it’s good enough to land him in the Top 12 in career passing records.A few decades later, Bobby Lyle had a grandson that would play QB for the Tide and would soar well beyond his grandfather’s accomplishments.
With that segue, I’ll see you next time when I cover another portion of the “QB room” where the stats will really jump off the page and the “new guys” stand alone at the top of the heap.
“What you wanna bet I can throw a football over them mountains?” – Uncle Rico
(Jake Chapman works with Mark Chreene on Friday nights in the fall to bring you the Minden High Crimson Tide games over the air on KASO/KBEF Radio.)
‘Tis the season for not only #FeedaFamily but keep a family warm too.
Following a successful Thanksgiving food pantry distribution that served more than 600 households on Saturday, November 19, the director for the Joe LeBlanc Food Pantry recognized an urgent need for their clients … keeping them warm during this winter season.
“I know we just finished distribution and we are knee deep in fundraising for #FeedaFamily BUT…we have a need y’all, Jessica Lewis, JLFP Executive Director said in a Facebook post. “A big one! During distribution it became clear that we have way too many clients that spend WAY too long in their cars waiting overnight (one spent 16 hours bc [sic] she arrived at 5 p.m. the night before) for us to open OR they don’t have heat in their homes. We spoke to one family that doesn’t have heat and can’t use a gas heater so their only option is lots of blankets. So, from today [November 19] until 12/15 we will host a blanket drive.”
New and gently used blankets can be dropped off at Joe LeBlanc Food Pantry which is located at the Christian Church at Minden on 814 Constable Street in Minden, La. A large blue bin has been placed at the side door to the pantry for donations. Blankets will be washed and given out during the Christmas distribution on December 17.
“Hopefully, this will help our families make it through this winter,” Lewis finished in her post.
The morning of September 16, 1976, was chilly in Yerevan, Armenia. The streets were busy with commuters heading to work and other various destinations. The city used trolleybuses powered by electric lines above the highway to transport the masses of people to their destinations. Windows wrapped around the entirety of the upper half of the trolleybuses to allow for better visibility. As it was a chilly morning, all the windows were closed to keep the cold air out. One such trolleybus was loaded with 91 people and its driver. As the trolleybus neared Yerevan Lake, something happened. Some people claimed the passengers and the driver got into a physical altercation, while others argued that the driver had a medical emergency, probably a heart attack. Regardless of the cause, the trolleybus veered off the roadway. The arms connecting the trolleybus to the electric wires snapped. Although the trolleybus had lost its power source, it rolled on its wheels down an embankment and straight into the frigid waters of Yerevan Lake. One witness said the sound was “so loud, as if a bomb went off.” Within seconds, the trolleybus was completely submerged.
Sometimes it seems like the right people are in the right place at the right time. 23-year-old Shavarash Karapetyan and his brother Kamo were nearby, heard the crash, and rushed to the water’s edge. Both Shavarash and Kamo were finswimming champions, a sport in which the swimmers wear fins to increase their speed in the water. At the time, Shavarash had won 37 gold medals and held nine world records for finswimming. He had earned nicknames such as “Goldfish” and “Amphibian.” On this day, however, neither Shavarash nor Kamo had their fins. Without hesitation, Shavarash sprang into action. As they ran, Shavarash told Kamo to help him from the shore.
Shavarash dove into the frigid water and swam to the spot where the trolleybus sank. He swam down 33 feet where the trolleybus rested on the lake floor. Shavarash tried to look into the windows of the trolleybus but, at that depth, all he saw was darkness. Shavarash knocked out one of the trolleybus’s windows. Air rushed out of the trolleybus. The change in air pressure by the broken glass forced shards of glass into Shavarash’s skin. Nine of the passengers exited through the window and swam to the surface.
Shavarash swam in through the trolleybus’s broken window and used his hands to feel around for passengers in the darkness. When his hands felt something, he clutched it, swam to the surface, and handed the person off to Kamo. Then, he dove down again and repeated the process. Each dive took Shavarash about 25 seconds. Although he was a champion swimmer, Shavarash was quickly losing strength. He would not give up. He could not give up. Shavarash dove down 38 times before his body could go no further. He almost drowned several times but somehow barely made it to the surface in time, gasping for air. On his last dive, Shavarash felt around inside the trolleybus for a passenger, clutched something, and swam up. On the surface, Shavarash was horrified to learn that, rather than a victim, he was grasping one of the trolleybus’s seat cushions.
Shavarash could swim no more. His body was exhausted. His lungs were injured and he could hardly breath. Shavarash wanted to go back down but Kamo pulled him from the water. He could do no more. In all, Shavarash helped get 46 people to the surface—nine escaped when Shavarash broke the trolleybus’s window, and he pulled 37 people to the surface.
Within minutes of the crash, doctors from a nearby hospital rushed to the scene to render what aid they could right there on the shore. Once Shavarash’s strength gave out and Kamo pulled him from the water, the doctors struggled to save his life as well. Ambulances loaded with survivors raced to the hospital and returned to the shore to transport more survivors, one of them being Shavarash. Of the passengers Shavarash pulled to the surface, 20 survived. Shavarash spent over a month in the hospital. He was diagnosed with septic fever, double-sided pneumonia, and nervous prostration.
Shavarash survived the trolleybus accident, but it haunts him to this day. Shavarash nearly drowned several times. He said later, “I could imagine the agony of those 92 people and I knew how they would die. I had nightmares about that cushion for a long time. I could have saved someone else’s life. In difficult moments like this, your love for fellow humans grows even stronger.”
Shavarash returned to swimming upon his release from the hospital, but he would never be the same. Swimming underwater was physically and mentally painful. True to form, however, Shavarash would not give up. Just a few months after the trolleybus accident, Shavarash competed in a finswimming championship. Knowing how he was struggling, Kamo ran alongside the pool just in case Shavarash lost consciousness. But Shavarash did not lose consciousness. He came in first place and set another world record. Following this win, Shavarash retired from the sport he so dearly loved. He could no longer bear to be underwater.
Shavarash was awarded the Medal “For the Salvation of the Drowning” and the Order of the Badge of Honor. What was Shavarash doing just before the trolleybus accident you wonder? What was he doing just before he dove down to a depth of 33 feet 38 times and helped 47 people from the sunken trolleybus? You see, Shavarash was already exhausted when he entered the water. Shavarash had just completed the final portion of that morning’s rigorous training event, a 12-mile run.
Source: AuroraPrize.com. “Twenty-Five Seconds per Life.” Accessed November 21, 2022. https://auroraprize.com/en/twenty-five-seconds-life.
9 a.m. – 3 p.m.Mistletoe Market in Springhill’s CAC Building hosted by Springhill Chamber of Commerce.Kick off the Christmas Shopping season with craft vendors and boutiques.Admission free. Visit with the Shreveport Santa (10-2) sponsored by Carter Credit Union.
5 p.m. Springhill Christmas Parade hosted by the Chamber of Commerce.Springhill Main Street.
Nov. 28
8 a.m. Minden City Council workshop, Agenda: Employee handbook. Pelican Room at Minden City Hall. The public is invited to attend.
Current-Nov. 30
Motorcycle exhibit at Dorcheat Historical Association Museum, 116 Pearl St., Minden. Motorcycles courtesy of 3 State Harley Davidson.
Dec. 2 & 3
6 p.m. “From Humbug to Hallelujah,” A musical comedy that presents the tale of Ebenezer Scrooge – with a twist. Eastside Missionary Baptist Church, Minden, La. For information, call 318-286-1259 or 318-377-2528.
Dec. 3
10 a.m. until dark. Sarepta Christmas Festival will be held December 3 from 11 a.m. until dark. There will be live music, food and craft vendors, a 5K run, treasure hunt, pictures with Santa and more! A fireworks show will take place at dark. The Christmas Festival will be at the Sarepta Park and Community Building on Vine Street.
Dec. 6
6 until 7:30 p.m. Webster Parish Library. Meriwether Wealth and Planning will present a community education seminar “No, It’s a Scam!” Learn about the latest scams and schemes targeting Webster Parish residents. Presenters Jason Parker, Webster Parish Sheriff and Tracy L. Campbell, financial advisor for Meriwether W&P. No cost to attend but pre-registration is required. Seating limited to 35. RSVP 318-377-1803. Refreshments will be provided as well as important take-home information.
Visitation: 1 until 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022 at Sibley United Methodist Church, Sibley, La.
Funeral service: 2 p.m. following visitation.
Burial: Lane Memorial Cemetery, Sibley.
Margaret Leona Fulton
March 29, 1940 – Nov. 21, 2022
Memorial service: 1 p.m. Monday, Nov. 28, 2022, Western Cemetery Emerson, Ark., under the direction of Bailey Funeral Home, Springhill, La.
Webster Parish Journal publishes paid complete obituaries – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access – $80. Contact your funeral provider or wpjnewsla@gmail.com . Must be paid in advance of publication. (Above death notices are free of charge.)
When Jared McIver announced his candidacy for Minden Police Chief, he was already working “in the trenches” with other police officers.
“I have a good working relationship with the officers,” he said. “I have a lot of training and years with the sheriff’s department and Wildlife and Fisheries.”
Officers never had to make sure McIver knew his job, and he isn’t worried that once he was in the field with officers and now he will be in the chief’s chair.
McIver said he didn’t sleep for two days following the election where he outed his opponent with 56 percent of the vote.
“Since the election, I’ve taken one day off,” he said. “It’s just because I’m excited about the position.”
Now, the adrenaline he experienced those first few days is being channeled into learning his new job and figuring ways to implement new ideas.
“The things I want to accomplish, I wanted to do them yesterday,” he added. “I’ve always been a goal setter.”
And apparently a planner.
“I see training we can be doing; I see technology we can be reaching for,” McIver said. “We are sitting on so much potential. I can see us at a whole other level.”
McIver spent years in training and has resources that will help officers.
“A retired Louisiana State Trooper contacted me, and they are holding a crime scene investigation class for patrol officers,” he said. “It’s a free course, meals provided. He said he had three positions and would hold them for us.”
Now, three officers from the Minden Police force will be attending the course in Haughton in just a few days.
“The officers are super excited,” he said. “That’s what I want to do.The more education they get … it benefits the whole department.”
McIver said he wants the city to be proud of its police officers and the best way to do that is to get out into the community.
His own experience while walking the campaign trail shows the top four concerns of citizens are – in this order – speeding, noise, exhaust and gun violence.
“I want to start holding functions publicly,” he said. “Our city is small enough that citizens should know our officers on a first-name basis. Most people don’t.”
Trust can only come from building better relationships, he said.
“We as officers must get back to the basics of getting in our neighborhoods and introducing ourselves now more than ever.
“It’s not ‘whatever I think works, should work,’” he continued. “I’m open to whatever we need to do to drive crime numbers down lawfully.”
The only thing that may make his job a little harder is lack of financing.
“You see the budget and see what you have to work with …” he said. More police cars on the street is a goal.
“Right now, all our cars are being run 24-7,” he said. “One officer gets out of a patrol car and another gets in. They are wearing down twice as fast as they should.”
Technology, such as computers in the cars will be helpful to officers by making their time more productive.
“They wouldn’t have to come back to the police station to write up reports,” he said. “They can do it in their cars while they are watching for speeders.”
McIver, as well as Mayor-Elect Nick Cox and members of the Minden City Council, will take their oaths of office at 6 p.m. December 29 at the Minden Civic Center.
Improvements to Minden’s downtown water tower are on schedule, according to interim Mayor Tommy Davis.
“They have a total of 110 working days to finish it,” Davis said. “Of course, that doesn’t include holidays and weather days.”
Davis said it has been at least 20 years since any significant work took place on the tower.
“It’s been leaking,” he said. “We are sandblasting inside and out and repainting.”
When workers are finished, the tower may look different, but Davis said that is only because it has been so long since it was painted.
“It will have the same paint and logo it has now,” he said.
Workers raise and lower a shroud around the outside of the water tower when sandblasting and painting.
“That protects cars and citizens that pass by,” said the mayor. “You can imagine if they didn’t do that … we would have paint all over cars at Minden Medical Center and the downtown churches.”
